This week, I am continuing my journey on a Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Timothy and St. Paul. The day-by-day itinerary for this week is included for you to join us in spirit and in prayer.
Day 5: Sunday, October 23: Canakkale/Kusadasi
The most favored of the Seven Churches was Pergamum. Christianity reached the city very early and the Church was praised for its forbearance during hard times. In Pergamum, Rome executed the first Christians. Towering 1,000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular Panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As we pass through the Royal Gates, we will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. We will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Athena and the ruins of the Library, which once held 200 thousand parchment volumes. We will see the remains of the Temple of Trojan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium and the Health Center (Aesclepion). We will also catch a glimpse of a three-storey fountain built by Titus. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 6: Monday, October 24: Kusadasi – A Banner Day!
Our Visit to St. Timothy’s See Drive to nearby Ephesus to visit the site of the Temple of Artemis. Paul spent two years in Ephesus and it was to this community that he might have written his Epistle to the Ephesians. Paul implored the Ephesians to cease their worship of Artemis and to turn to Christianity. Saint Timothy accompanied Paul in the second and third journey and was with him during his first imprisonment. Paul left him as Bishop of Ephesus. We will see the great theater where Paul addressed the crowds and visit the site of the scene of the riot from which Paul escaped. Visit the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Visit the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Tomb of St. Luke. On August 18, 1961, Pope John XXII proclaimed the House of Mary at Ephesus to be sacred.
Day 7: Tuesday, October 25: Kusadasi/Patmos
Transfer to the pier at Kusadasi to embark on a three-day cruise of the beautiful Greek Isles. After setting sail from Kusadasi a few hours later, we will arrive at the island of Patmos, where St. John received the mystical Revelation, which forms the last book of the New Testament. You may wish to visit the island on your own or take an optional excursion to the Grotto of Revelation and the 11th century Monastery of St. John which houses the original script of the Gospel.
Day 8: Wednesday, October 26: Rhodes This morning, we will arrive at the island of Rhodes, which is characterized as the “Jewel” of the Dodecanese islands. It enjoys an exceptionally mild climate and receives by far the lion’s share of visitors. It combines all that is needed in a holiday island; beaches, nightlife, culture, scenery, greenery and comfort. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes have been declared a World Heritage Site.
Day 9: Thursday, October 27: Heraklion, Crete/Santorini –
A Visit to the See of St. Titus
This morning, we arrive in the port of Heraklion on the island of Crete, the southernmost of the Greek Isles and the legendary birthplace of the Greek god, Zeus. Heraklion, the capital of Crete and its principal commercial port, is just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations. After visiting Crete, we will set sail and arrive on the island of Santorini, one of the most beautiful islands on the Mediterranean. You’ll have your choice of several optional excursions, but, Santorini is easily done on your own. Take time to explore this gorgeous island and stroll through its quaint winding streets and whitewashed alleys and enjoy the local flavor of its many cafes and tavernas.
Day 10: Friday, October 28: Piraeus/Athens
This morning, we will dock in Piraeus and disembark from our cruise. Drive to nearby Athens and visit the world-renowned Acropolis and the ruins of the Parthenon and Ecrectheum. We will view Mars Hill where Paul was brought before the council so that they may hear more of the doctrine he preached. Then drive around the city of Athens to see the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Presidential Palace. Then head over to the National Archeological Museum for a guided tour of one of the world’s greatest museums. In the afternoon, we will drive along the scenic coastal road and follow fairly the same route that the St. Paul took to the ancient city of Corinth where he preached and lived for nearly two years. St. Timothy also came with Paul to Corinth to preach. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. We’ll celebrate Mass in Corinth before returning back to our hotel.
Day 11: Saturday, October 29: Athens
This morning will be free for personal activities. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive along the coastal road, which affords splendid views of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens’ most beautiful suburbs to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th Century B.C. Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day, you can see at least seven islands). This evening, there will be a special farewell dinner in one of the restaurants on the Plaka.
Day 12: Sunday, October 30: Athens/U.S.A.
Transfer to the airport to catch our return flight home.
Next weekend, as my pilgrim journey is ending, Fr. Bill Faustner will be assisted by Fr. G. William Fischer, OSFS, who is representing the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. This organization offers a concrete way to reach out to children an older adults around the world to help them experience a better life. Fr. Fischer will not be taking up a collection, but will make available materials that invite you to participate in the work of the Foundation.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works, but according to His own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher. On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed and am confident that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. (II Timothy 1:6-12)
Faith is a gift from God. It is not something earned or won. It is pure gift. God is generous with this gift, but once it is received, it must be nurtured. St. Paul invites St. Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift he received. In this context, it is the gift of leadership bestowed on Timothy for the sake of the community, namely his ordination as priest and bishop, as well as his faith.
The Gospel brings hardship. Paul is clear that he is willing to bear his own troubles for the sake of the Gospel and he calls Timothy to take up his own burdens with a positive spirit and with trust in the strength that God supplies. Knowing his own place as Apostle, and his own experience of God’s grace and His faithfulness to those who proclaim the Gospel, Paul charges Timothy to be confident in his own response to the Lord.
As we become ever more aware of the Gospel in our own lives, we are invited to fan into flame the gift we have received and to put our trust in the Lord that He will strengthen us in our witness. Suffering and hardship are often our lot, but we know God has a purpose and that He will keep us safe. We know Him in Whom we have believed and we may be confident that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to us until the Day of the Lord.
Reflections on the Liturgy:
As we enter into immediate preparation for the transition to the new English form of the Mass, it is good to take the opportunity to renew our understanding about what is happening in the Liturgy and our own part in it. We are called to full, conscious, active participation. Each person present has a role and a responsibility even if there is no particular ministry or function being exercised.
The Mass has four primary “movements”: Gathering, Hearing the Word, the Sacrifice, and the Sending Forth. Our final reflections are meant to highlight aspects of each of these parts of the Liturgy. All of us would do well to review our own practice and to become more conscious of the meaning of what we are doing.
The Holy Sacrifice, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, is the heart of the Mass. All that comes before leads up to it, and everything that follows flows from it. The Gathering and the Hearing of the Word are intended to prepare us to enter into the Sacred Mysteries. Through the Eucharist, we have a living experience of the Incarnation, the Presence of God among us, and of the Paschal Mystery, the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Risen Lord gives us Himself, under the species of bread and wine, and He leads us through His Passion to a taste of the Glory that is His in the Kingdom.
With the Preparation of the Gifts, we experience the presentation of our lives to the Lord, taking the form of the bread and wine brought forward along with the collection that represents our gift of self, our stewardship of the gifts we have received. We acknowledge the Sacrifice that takes place before us, our entry into the Mystery of Calvary through the Sacramental celebration that the Lord Himself established the night before He died.
The Preface Dialogue and the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) carry us into the Heavenly Worship that includes the Angels and Saints, drawing us into the Tabernacle not made by human hands. The Eucharistic Prayer proclaims the action of the Holy Spirit and of Jesus Christ Himself, which unites us in one solemn act of Worship of the Father.
The very Mystery of Faith is enacted before us on the earthly altar and we are made present through Christ at the Altar in Heaven. An exchange takes place: earthly forms take on the very reality of Eternity. The Risen Lord gives us Himself as Food. The Eucharist is Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, that is, in the fullness of His Person made incarnate and risen and ascended into Glory.
The Communion Rite prepares us to receive the Eucharist. We pray the prayer our Savior taught us, daring to call God Abba, Our Father. We seek reconciliation and express our unity in the Sign of Peace. We acknowledge our reliance on God Himself to make us worthy to receive Him. Then, we receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. Our Communion is a Communion in the Sacred Things. “Holy Things to the Holy!” Hymns of praise and meditation express the solemnity of the actions we perform at this moment. A time of silence allows us to unite our hearts, minds and souls to the Lord Who dwells in us through the Sacrament of Unity.
Do an examination of your family conscience with these questions:
Do you fast for an hour before you receive Holy Communion? Do you examine your heart to discover whether there may be sins that need to be confessed and forgiven through the Sacrament of Penance before presenting yourself to the Lord in the Eucharist?
Do you show the Eucharistic Lord the reverence He is due by genuflecting toward the Tabernacle as you enter the church? Do you keep an attitude of silence in church, before, during and after the celebration of Mass, remembering that the church is God’s sanctuary?
Do you participate in the Eucharistic action by uniting yourself with the gifts that are brought forward? Are you and your family returning to the Lord a portion of the treasure you receive through the collection? Do you act as a steward of all you have received, your time, talent and financial possessions? Do your join in the songs and responses of the Liturgy of the Eucharist with full voice?
Are you attentive to the action that takes place on the Altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist? Do you unite yourself in spirit to the Lord Who sacrifices Himself for us, turning toward the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit, giving the Father praise and honor and glory? Are you caught up in awe by what the Lord accomplishes on the altar?
As you come forward to receive Holy Communion, do you ensure that your mouth is empty (no gum or candy or anything else being eaten)? Do you bow your head before receiving the Host or the Cup? If you receive the Host in the hand, do you create a throne and lift the Host reverently to your mouth?
Do you return to your seat and kneel or sit in the awareness that the Lord of Glory is now in your very body and in your fellow worshipers? Do you take the opportunity in silence to make an act of thanksgiving?
Are you or someone in your family called to become Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass or in service of the Sick and Homebound? Would you be able to assist in the service of the Altar in some way, as Altar Server, Sacristan, or in the care and cleaning of the church? Do you feed the hungry in body and spirit in response to the Lord’s gift of Himself as spiritual Food for you?
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